Hamilton Mountain Trail

Skamania, Washington 98648

This is a steep, rocky trail leading up past a pair of pretty waterfalls, to a high peak on the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. The views are unmatched: Mount Hood is so close it could almost be touched.
The array of waterfalls that crash down the steep walls of the Oregon side of the Gorge present themselves as silver ribbons on the dark-green background of the forested slopes. There’s also a slight chance hikers will get to see humans take flight from this peak: Paraglider pilots launch from this high butte, soaring out over the gorge and landing near the river.

Hamilton Mountain Trail

5Skamania, Washington 98648

This is a steep, rocky trail leading up past a pair of pretty waterfalls, to a high peak on the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. The views are unmatched: Mount Hood is so close it could almost be touched.

The array of waterfalls that crash down the steep walls of the Oregon side of the Gorge present themselves as silver ribbons on the dark-green background of the forested slopes. There’s also a slight chance hikers will get to see humans take flight from this peak: Paraglider pilots launch from this high butte, soaring out over the gorge and landing near the river.

Hamilton Mountain Trail Professional Guide

Detailed Trail Description from our Guidebook

"This is a steep, rocky trail leading up past a pair of pretty waterfalls, to a high peak on the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. The views are unmatched: Mount Hood is so close it could almost be touched.

The array of waterfalls that crash down the steep walls of the Oregon side of the Gorge present themselves as silver ribbons on the dark-green background of the forested slopes. There’s also a slight chance hikers will get to see humans take flight from this peak: Paraglider pilots launch from this high butte, soaring out over the gorge and landing near the river."

"One of the most popular destinations on the Washington side of the gorge, Hamilton Mountain lives up to its hype, delivering breathtaking views, dazzling wildflowers, and a pair of dramatic waterfalls. Amble below, along, and above basaltic cliffs, peering up and down the dramatic gorge spread before you. Marvel at a seemingly impenetrable wall of Oregon peaks across the river that are dwarfed by glacial-robed Mount Hood rising above them. And delight in the trails and bridges leading you to all of this, the showy legacies of the 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)." Read more

"This hike in the Columbia Gorge has a little bit of everything the gorge offers— enchanting waterfalls and pools, wildflowers, views of volcanoes, and an incredible vantage of the Columbia River’s deep channel. A ribbon of water dropping into a deep pothole of a pool at 1.1 miles is a highlight of the hike. It’s rare to find such a long, scenic hike that you can do before the high country snow melts out." Read more

"A steep day hike to the top of Hamilton Mountain, passing Hardy and Rodney Falls. The Hamilton Mountain Trail climbs 4 miles to the top of Hamilton Mountain, and once past the falls it is almost all uphill.
This portion of Beacon Rock State Park offers spectacular views, but some sections of the trail are very steep and you should consider carefully before taking the southern route to the top. There is a less treacherous route, described as the return route for this hike, that runs to the north after Rodney Falls." Read more

"If not for Dog Mountain, a little farther eastward, this would have to be the best place for seeing wildflowers on western Washington’s side of the Columbia River Gorge. From the bottom of the trail to its top, there is over 2,000 feet of vertical relief and this is best expressed in the sheer numbers of flower species to be found.
And then, there are the views up and down the Gorge! Even the roar from Bonneville Dam can be heard above the whoosh- whoosh of traffic far below on WA 14. Waterfall lovers—and who isn’t?—also have two big falls to enjoy." Read more

"One of the most popular destinations on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, Hamilton Mountain lives up to its hype, delivering breathtaking views, dazzling wild?owers, and a pair of dramatic waterfalls. While Beacon Rock is the crown jewel of the 5100-acre state park of the same name, Hamilton Mountain is where the real hiking action is in the park. But for all of the aforementioned reasons, don’t expect solitude." Read more

Hamilton Mountain Trail Reviews

It's a long steep hike. Most enjoyed when its a clear sunny day. We went on a wet, slightly wintery day. Cloud ceiling was low, so views were less than favorable, but the rock formations were a sight. Hardy Creek falls is about 1 mile in and are beautiful.

We stayed in a tent at the campgounds 05/21/2009 thru 05/25/2009. We hiked up to the two waterfalls, up Beacon Rock and to the Top of Hamilton Mountain. The hike to the top of Hamilton Mountain is steep and somewhat difficult but the views are well worth the hike. We took the "more difficult" route up and then continued down via the loop or, the "difficult" path. If you just take the "difficult" path you will miss out on a lot of great views. Not recommended for the first hike of the season, but our kids, 9 and 12, did not seem to mind. They also enjoyed the hike.

Some of the best views within an hour's drive from Portland. Well worth the effort to get to the top, but I recommend going early. I ended up reaching the summit towards dusk and had to run most of the way back down (didn't take a flashlight... doh!).
A great hike if you don't have a lot of time, but you want to see a lot. Takes about 4-5 hours if you don't rush too much.